Sheet-metal folding shipping-crate.



I. A. CONRAD. SHEET METAL FOLDING SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZZ, 1912.

Patented Dec. 10,1912.

///\/ [NVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO.,\VASHINGTON, n. c

JOSEPH A. CONRAD, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS.

SHEET-METAL FOLDING SHIPPING-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10,1912.

Application filed May 22, 1912. Serial No. 698,945.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrrr i i- CONRAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Folding Shipping-Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to crates and more particularly to sheet metal folding shipping crates.

An object of the invention is to provide a metallic shipping crate which will be strong and durable and which may be folded into compact form when not in use.

Another object is to provide a crate of this character with means for interlocking the edges of the ends, sides and top when the crate is set up for use and means for removably securing a transverse partition to the sides and also to provide locking mecha nism carried by the top and front or one side.

Another object is to provide a folding crate of this character, the sides, top and ends of which are adapted to be folded upon the bottom and locked in position by the removable partition being engaged o-ver the hand-holds.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter made clearly apparent in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the crate in its folded position with the removable partition engaged partly over the hand-holds to lock the crate in folded position. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view ont-he line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the crate in set up position, said view being taken on line 33 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional View on the line 4% of Fig. 3, and, Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, showing in detail the locking mechanism for locking the crate when in its set up position.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 represents the bottom of the crate having one of its long edges bent upwardly, as shown at 2, and its ends 8 bent upwardly, while the other long edge has portions turned upon itself, as shown at 4c, the edge being cut away between the turned portions l, the purpose of which will presently appear. The upper edges of the other edge 2 and of the ends 3 are turned upon themselves in a similar manner and cut away between the turned portions. It will be noted that the side 2 is extended upwardly a suitable distance to equal the thickness of the hinged side 5 and the top (3, when said side 5 and top 6 are folded upon the bottom 1. The hinged side 7, hinged to the upwardly directed edge 2 of the bottom, may be folded upon the hinged side 5 and top 6, it being understood that the hinged side ishinged to the other long edge of the bottom 1. The hinged ends 8 may then be folded upon the hinged side 7, this being possible owing to the fact that the short edges 3 of the bottom 1 are directed upwardly for a short distance above the edge 2. The lower edges of the hinged sides 5 and 7 and of the hinged ends 8 are turned upon themselves at intervals in a similar manner to the edges of the bottom 1, with portions cut awayb'etween their turned portions, the turned portions of the hinged sides 5 and 7 and the ends 8 being so positioned as to fit between the turned portions of the edges of the bottom 1 to permit of a hinge wire 9 being passed through the turned portion of the edges of the bottom 1 and of the hinged sides 5 and 7 and ends 8 to hingedly connect said sides and ends to the bottom.

The vertical edges of the sides 5 and 7 are provided with right angularly directed flanges 10 for engagement with channel bars 11, carried by the ends 8, to lock the sides and edges in their upright positions. The sides 5 and 7 also have positioned vertically upon their inner faces the channel bars 12 about midway the vertical edges of the sides to receive the right angled edges 13 of the vertical partition 1 1.' The partition 14 has two of its opposite edges 13, previously mentioned, directed at right angles'and parallel with one another for engagement in the channel bars 12, carried by the sides 5 and 7 to divide the crate into compartments and also to retain the sides in proper spaced relation to one another. The other edges of the partition 14L are directed also at an angle to the partition, but toward one another, as shown at 15, for engagement with similarly formed hand-holds 16 carried upon the outer faces of the ends 8, the handholds 16, however, being directed toward the lower edges of the ends, thus being opposed to one another and to the edges 15 of the partition 14, when the crate is in folded position and the edges 15 of the partition 14 are engaged over the hand-holds 16 to lock the crate in folded position.

The bottom 1 is provided with supporting feet 17 projecting downwardly and extending transversely adjacent the opposite ends or short edges of the bottom, which feet are pressed out from the upper face of the bottom and thus form recesses to receive the right angled flanges 10, carried by vertical edges of the side 5 when said side is folded upon the bottom.

The top 6 has three of its edges directed upwardly and then bent upon themselves and directed downwardly for tight engagement over the upper edges of the side 7 and ends 8 to strengthen the crate and form tight closures, it being understood that the other long edge of the top 6 is turned upon itself, after being directed upwardly and hingedly connected to the upper edge of the side 5. To look the top 6 in position and prevent unauthorized persons from obtaining access to the contents of the crate, I have provided a locking mechanism which consists of rods 18 positioned in alinement with one another and slidably engaged through guide collars 19 upon the upper face of the top 6, the outer ends of the rods 18 being engaged through the perforated ears 20, carried by the side 7 and projecting through suitable openings 21 in the top 6, when the top 6 is in its position upon the side 7 and the ends 8 and the rods 18 are in their forward positions. The rods 18, however, may be drawn inwardly and thus disengaged from the cars 20, by means of the pivoted levers. 22. The levers 22 are pivoted attheir centers upon the pivot pins 23 carried by the cover 6, which pins are located adjacent one another, and the levers are bent adjacent the pins 23 and directed oppositely to one another and secured to the adjacent ends of the rods 18 to control the latter. By pressing the free ends of the levers 22 toward one another the rods'18 are caused to move away from each other and are forced through the perforated ears 20. The rods may be locked in this position by passing a wire of the lock through the free ends of the levers 22 and placing a seal or lock 24: upon the ends of the wire, thus preventing unauthorized persons from obtaining access to the contents of the crate. After the seal or lock 24 is removed, the free ends of the lever 22 may be separated to force the opposite ends of said levers toward one another and withdraw the rods 18 from the cars 20, thus permitting raising of the top 6. After the crate is relieved of its contents, it may be readily folded, as above described, after the removal of the partition 14;, and the latter may be employed for locking the crate in folded position by engaging the same over the hand-holds 16 carried by the ends 8, as also previously stated.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a folding shipping crate which will be strong and durable in use and which may also be folded in compact form and locked in folded position and the parts of which may be readily and securely locked together when the crate is set up for use. It will also be evident that I have provided a crate having a removable partition, which may also be employed in connection with the hand-holds carried upon the ends of the crate, for locking said crate in its folded position.

It will further be seenthat I have generally improved the construction of crates of this character and provided novel locking means and improved mechanism for locking the top in closed position upon the sides and ends of the crate and preventing unauthorized persons from obtaining access to the contents of the crate.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a crate consisting of bottom, sides and ends hingedly connected to the bottom, a top carried by one of the sides, the ends, sides and top being adapted to be folded upon the bottom, hand holds carried by the ends, and a removable partition member adapted for engagement over said hand holds for locking the sides, top and ends of the crate in folded position upon the bottom.

2. A device of the class described comprising a folding crate consisting of a bottom having a side hingedly connected thereto and adapted to be folded thereupon, a top I carried by the side and adapted to be folded thereupon, a second side secured to the bottom and adapted to be folded upon the top, ends secured to the bottom and adapted to be folded upon the second side, said ends carrying downwardly directed hand-holds, said hand-holds extending in opposite directions when the ends are in their folded positions upon the second side, and a removable partition having inwardly bent edges for engagement over the hand-holds to lock the crate in folded position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

JOSEPH A. CONRAD.

Vitnesses CARRIE S. ROBERTS, Eva G. VVILKINsON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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